Quadding and centering device for typographical casting machines



INVENTORS L ROSSETTO G ESQUASSO/V/ ATTORNEVJ L. ROSSETTO ET AL.

AND CENTERING DEVICE FOR March 23, 1954 QUADDING TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINES Filed sept. 9, 1950 March 23, 1954 L. RossETTo ET AL 2,572,972 QUADDING AND CENTERING DEVICE FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINES 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 9, 1950 /NVENTORS L 90555770 I G. E souAsso/v/ 7'7' NEI/5' www, WE

March 23, 1954 L. RossETTo ET Al. 2,672,972

QUADDING AND CENIERING DEVICE FOR IYPoGRAPHIcAI. CASTING MACHINES Filed sept. 9, 195o 14 sheets-sheet;

| x. 1 l l il I INVENTORS l.. ROSSE 7' 7'0 G. SQUASSO/V/ RssETTo E1- AL AND CENT March 23, 1954 L. 2,6729 72 QUADDINC ERINC DEVICE FCR TYPOCRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINES Filed sept. 9, 195o 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 NVENTORS L ROSSETO GESQUASSO/V/ March23, 1954 L. ROSSETTO ET AL QUADDING AND CENTERING DEVICE FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL 'CASTING MACHINES 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 9, 1950 /M/E/vroRs L @055mm e. f'. sal/A S50/w Afro ,ver 5 ,/d m

L. ROSSETTO ,ET AL March 23, 1954 2,672,972 I QUADDING AND CENTERING DEVICE FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINES 14 sheets-smet e Filed Sept. 9, 1950 /NvAj/vrons 1.. nassarra @fsm/Assam March 23, 1954 R Filed sept. 9, 195o OSSETTO ET AL QUADDING AND CENTERINGv TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING- 2,672,972 E ICE FOR CHINES 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 ATTORNEY March 23, 1954 L. RossETTo :a1-Al.v 2,672,972 QUADDING AND CENTERING DEVICE FOR MACHINES TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Sept. 9, 1950 /NVENTORS L ROSSETTO G. ESOUASSO/V/ March 23, 1954 L, ROSSETTO ET A| 2,672,972

QUADDING AND CENTERING DEVICE FOR TYPOGRPHICL CASTING. MACHINES Filed Sept. 9, 1950 l4'Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTORS L. 1905557170 G. F. SOUASSO/V/ March 23, 1954 L. RossETTo ET AL QUADDING AND CENTE TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING .MACHINES RING DEVICE FOR Filed Sept. 9, 1950 14 Sheets-Sheet l0 Y /NVEN T0195 1 Rosse T70 G. F. sal/,4 $5 ON/ L 'd A 7' gon/vir@ -mru -mhlkml March 23, 1954 l.. RossETTo ET Al.

QUADDING AND 2,672,972 CENTERING DEVICE FOR TYPOGRAPHIC ES Filed sept, 9, -195o AL CASTING MACHIN 14 Sheets-Sheet ll /NVENTORS L. 1905557' GESQUASS ATTORNEYS' hm. HMM@ JWM March 23, 1954 Rossi-:TTC ET AL 2,672,972 .QUADDING AND CENTERING DEVICE FOR l TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 9, 1950 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 /NVE/yros L .Rossf T70 Gf sQUAsso/v/ March 23, 1954 ROSSE-TTC ET AL 2,672,972

QUADDING AND CENTERING DEVICE FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINES Fild Sept. 9, 1950 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 sae-mao comma. Jsox PUSH-eur ro/y co/vmoL 90x C MEASURE LH. v/s Por PUMP JAW soLsNo/o ,4 fr0/WE Ys Il@ Rossi-:TTC ET AL March 23, 1954 QUADDI 2,672,972 AND CENTERINGDEVICE FOR TYPOGRAPI-IICAL CASTING MACHINES 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed sept. 9, 195o MANJI QNIMJJ NWN.

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INVENTORS L ROSSETTO G. FSOUASSUN/ ATTORNEYS www L@ Q' Patented Mar. 23, 1954 aar/am QUADDIN G AND CENTERING DEVICE FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINES Louis Rossetto, Flushing, and Gino F. Squassoni,

Corona, N.

Y., assignors to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application September 9, 1950, Serial No. 184,071

31 Claims.

This invention relates to quadding and centering devices for typographical casting machines and more particularly to devices of the type disclosed in the Frolander Patent No. 1,971,400, the Hilpman Patent No. 2,255,254, the Turner application Serial No. 80,887, nled lMarch 11, 1949, now U. S. Patent No. 2,639,027, and the Rossetto application Serial No. 183,033, iiled September 2, 1950. The present improvements, which will best be understood from the detailed description to follow, are intended to increase the eiiciency of such quadding and centering devices and to extend their scope of operation, although it may be stated here that one oi the characteristic features of the improvements is anA electromechanical control which may be operated either manually cr automatically by a Teletypesetter unit to condition the machine for a' quadding operation with either jaw, for a centering operation with both iawaior a regular machine operation which involves no quadding or centering, as well as for an automatic quadding operation with the right-hand jaw when a composed line falls short by a predetermined amount of the full length oi line for which the machine is set.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial front elevation of a Linotype machine with the present invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the vise frame, showing certain of the improvements;

Figs. 3 and 4 are left and right side elevations of the hand-operated mechanical control rod setting mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a left side elevation, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 2 in relation to the -rst elevator; v Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7 1 of Fig. 5;

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are sectional views similar to Fig. 7, but showing the control rod set in posi- -tions for left-jaw quadding, centering, and rightjaw quadding, respectively;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged front elevation of the control rod and the restoring or resetting mechanism therefor;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of the control rod banking pin shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 13 -is a partial top View, partly in section,

of the line setting mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a front View, partly in section, of the improved assembler line stop mechanism as controlled bythe setting mechanism shown in Fig.

Fig. 15 is a section taken on the line 15-15 of .Fig 14;

' Fig. 17 is a front view, partly in section, taken on line |1-I1 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 18 is a front view oi the line measure device and the line delivery channel of the machine;

Fig. 19 is a top View of the line measure device; Fig. 20 is a view taken on the line 20-20 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged view taken on the line 2t-'2| of Fig. 13 but showing a different setting; Fig. 22 is a view taken on the line 22-22 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a partial enlarged front view of the parts shown in Fig. 17;

" Fig. 24 is a view taken on Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a View taken on the line Fig. 13;

.l Fig. 26 is a front view of rod setting device;

Fig. 27 is a top view of the solenoid control box with the cover broken away;

Fig. 2-8 is a left side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 26; Fig. 29 is a left side elevation of the casting mechanism, showing the casting' safeties and the first elevator cam;

Fig. 30 is a front view, partly in section, of the left-hand vise jaw and the safety control mechanism built therein;

Fig. 31 is a top plan view of the casting mechanism and the safety mechanisms associated therewith;

Fig. 32 is an isometric view of the keyboard, the vpush-button control box and the assembly elevator raising cam of a Teletypesetter unit;

Fig. 33 is a front View of the push-button control box;

Figs. 34 and 35 illustrate the cams shown in Fig. 32; and

Figs. 36 and 36-A contain the circuit diagram -for the present invention.

In the regular operation of the machine (sce Fig. 1). the matrices X and expansible spacebands Y are composed in line in the assembler 2 under the restraining influence of the line resistant 3 of the assembler slide 3, which latter can be set in a manner to be later explained for lines of diiierent length. After the line has been composed, the assembler is raised to position the line between the left-hand nger 4 and the line 24-24 0f the electrical control the relatively short right-'hand finger 5- of the line delivery carriage 6, which thereupon moves to the left and transfers the composed line through the intermediate delivery channel 1 into the vertically movable line transporter or first elevator B slidably mounted in the vise frame 3. Upon receiving the composed line, the first elevator immediately descends to position it between the left-hand jaw I and the right-hand jaw II and in front of a slotted mold, which latter then advances from the rear and into contact with the line and the two clamping jaws for the slug casting operation, the line prior to the casting operation being aligned with the mold and properly justied when the machine is operating under the usual conditions. After the slug has been cast, the mold is carried from its horizontal casting position to a vertical'ejecting position by a three-quarter turn of the mold disk I2 (see Fig. 29); in the meantime, the first elevator is being raised to the upper transfer level where the composed line is shifted therefrom to the right by the operation of the usual transfer slide into the upper transfer channel i3 preparatory to the separation of the matrices from the spacebands for delivery to their indi vidual storage magazines. The first elevator then is lowered and finally comes to rest in its original or line receiving position just before the machine cycle is completed.

'The line clamping jaws I0 and II are operable to cooperate with lines of less than full length so as to cast slugs with blank spaces at either end, as for quadding, or at both ends for centering. For this purpose (Fig, 2), the two jaws It and II are movable toward and from each other by a vertically movable rod I4 which may be connected at its upper end to the respective jaws through the medium of two similar oppositely disposed bell crank levers I5 and I6 pivoted at I5a and les, respectively, to the vise frame 9. The longer arm of the lever I5 (see Figs. 1 and 2) is connected by the link I1 directly to the support I8 for the right-hand jaw II, while the longer arm of the lever I6 is connected by the link I3 to the banking block 20 for the lefthand jaw iD, which latter is capable of adjustment toward and from the opposing right-hand jaw I I to provide for the proper handling of composed lines of different lengths in the normal or regular operation ofthe machine.

In providing for the connection and disconnection of the rod I4 with and from the jaws Ill and'II, it is equipped (Figs. 1, 2 and 1l) at its upper end with the annularly grooved collar 2| formed for engagement with diametrically opposed pins 22 and 23 protruding inwardly from the extremities of the shorter arms of the jaw actuating levers I5 and I6, respectively. 'The rod I4 is mounted to slide in suitable bearings of the vise frame 9 and is provided with the serrated collar or rack 24. In the present instance, the collar 2I is keyed or otherwise secured to the rod I4 and the latter is rotatable in opposite directions in order to set the collar in different angular positions so as, in this way, to establish an operative connection between the rod and either jaw for quadding, or between the rod and both jaws for centering.

The movement kof either or both of the jaws during a quadding or centering operation is effected by the upward movement of the rod 1 4. Since the justification of composed lines in standard machines takes place during each casting cycle immediately after the line has been positioned between the clamping jaws, members of the justifying mechanism in performing their normal functions are used advantageously to effect such upward movement of the rod I4. Part of this mechanism is shown in Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 11 and includes, generally, the horizontal spaceband thrust bar 25 vsupported at its opposite ends by two vertical rods 26 and 21 slidably mounted in the vise frame 9, the springactuated fore-and-aft lever 28 controlled by cam action from the main drive shaft 29 (see Fig. 29) of the machine, and the second springactuated fore-and-aft lever 30 also controlled from the main drive shaft of the machine. Generally speaking, there are two separate operations included in the justification of a composed line; the first is a preliminary operation, involving the upward movement of the long fore-and-aft lever 28 which, through the medium of a sleeve 3I is splined to the rod 26 and arranged to engage a collar 32 fixed thereto, raises the thrust bar 25 in a canted position; the second is the final operation, involving the upward movement of both levers 28 and 30 in synchronism, the lever 28 serving as before to drive the rod 25 upwardly, and the leverY 3u serving to drive the companion rod 21 upwardly through the medium of a sleeve 35 splined to the rod 21 and adapted to engage av collar 35 fixed thereto. The effect of the synchronous movement of the two levers 28 and 30 is Yto drive the thrust bar 25 upward in a horizontal position for the final justification of the composed line.

According to the present improvements, the fore-and-aft levers 23 and 32 are utilized to control the upward m-ovement of the vertical rod I4, and they do so by the action of a pair of pawls 33 and 34 cooperating with the rack 24. As shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, the pawl 33 is loosely mountedin anffupstanding portion of the sleeve 3i and, in its lowermost or inoperative position, it is adapted to be held out of engagement with the rack 24 by an adjustable set screw 33EL adapted to bank against a shelf on the vise frame of the machine. When the sleeve 3l is moved upwardly, however, the pawl 33 falls by gravity into engagement with the rack and then drives the vertical jaw closing rod I4 upwardly. The pawl 34, on the other hand, is oppositely disposed with respect to the pawl 33 and the rack 24 and is loosely mounted on a centrally pivoted lever 31 at a point 'between the pivot and the left end thereof. A small arm or spur member 38 is connected to the pawl 34 and is provided with an adjustable set screw 40 adapted, in the normal position of rest of the parts, to seat on a ledge of the vise frame 9 to withhold the pawl 34 from engagement with the rack 24. The lever 31 carries an antifriction roller at its right end which is adapted to be engaged'by the upper surface of a plate 35a, screwed or otherwise attached to the sleeve 35. When, therefore, the lever 30 is actuated and the lever 31 is raised by the plate 35% suiiiciently to unseat the set screw 49, a spring 39 which pulls downwardly on the spur 38 rocks the pawl 34 into engagement with the rack 24, and the further upward motion of the plate 35a then serves todrive the jaw closing rod I4 upwardly.

Pivotally attached to a bracket arm 4I on the viselframe `9 isa split lever having arms 42a and i2b connected by a spring 42 which serves to maintain a lug on the arm 42h against an adjustable screw 4,2el carried by thev arm 422L (see Fig. ll). The lowermestextremity of the arm 42h is pivotally connected by a short link 44 to a long ymore or less vertically disposed arm 43, pivotally 4suspended in the vise frame.

serves, through the arrangement just described,

to regulate the speed with which the jaw closing operation takes place in order to prevent damage to the matrices.

The operation of the vise closing rod I 4 can now be explained. With aline of matrices in position for a quadding or centering operation and the mold advanced against the faces of the matrices so positioned, the cam-controlled spring-actuated lever 28 is permitted to rise, said rise corresponding to the upward movement of the lever for first justification of composed lines in regular operation. During its upward movement, the lever 28 moves the sleeve 3l upwardly, allowing the pawl 33 first to fall into engagement with the rack 24 and then to effect the closing of the jaw or jaws against the composed line, any excessive shocl; being, as explained, taken up by the spring 42. After the above described operation, the long fore-and-aft lever 2s is forced downwardly by the control cam and the mold recedes away from the faces of the matrices. The jaw closing rod I4, however, although relieving the force initially exerted in closing the iaws on the composed l'ne, nevertheless remains in its upward position due to the balance of the system of levers and the weight of the jaw or jaws. The casting operation is now about ready to take place, and, as in the ordinary operation of the marhne, the mold bearing dis; I2 s advanced, carrying the mcld once again into contact with the faces of the matrices, the melting pot 45 (see Fig. 29) is tilted forwardly against the back of the mold, and finally both of the spring-actuated cam-oontrolled justification levers 28 and 33 are permitted to rise together to bring both pawls 33 and 34 into play against the rack 24, all in the manner above described. At the beginning of this final jaw closing operation, since the vertical rod I4 is already in raised position as a result of the preliminary vaction of the lever 23 and the pawl 33, as just explained, the joint action of the pawls 33 and 34- on the rod I4 brings the full pressure of the two justification lever springs against the composed line of matrices. With the full pressure thus applied to the line, molten metal is f forced into the mold for the slug casting operation.

After the casting operation, the justification levers 28 and Si) are both returned to their downward position of rest by the further rotation of their respective cams, and the mold disk I2 is rotated through a three-quarter turn to carry the mold to the vertical slug ejecting position; meanwhile, as explained above, the first elevator 8 lifts the matrices to the transfer channel. The present invention makes use of the ascent of the first elevator for the purpose of restoring the jaws to their original position y,of maximum separation.

Toward this end (see Fig. 11), the first elevator 8 is provided with a beveled plate or cam 46, the

inclined surface of which is adapted during the ascent to engage an antifriction roller 4I carried at the lowermost extremity of the pivoted arm 43,

forcing the arms 42a and 42b to pivot in clockwise directions and causing the arm 42a to depress the vertical rod I4 to its normal or lowermost position of rest. Any resulting shock caused by this return action will, of course, be tal/:en up by the spring 42.

To determine the lowermost and normal position of rest of the rod I4, the lower end of the said rod, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, is provided with an annular groove 48 and a spring-pressed plunger 4Q, built into the vise frame s, is adapted to enter said groove when the rod is in the lowermost position. The lower wall 48a of the groove 48 is beveled to disengage the plunger 49 during the upward movement of the rod.

As already explained, the rod I4 is equipped at its upper end with the annularly grooved collar 2I formed for engagement with the pins 22 and 23 protruding inwardly from the extremities of the shorter arms of the jaw actuating levers i5 and 65, respectively. The rod I4 is rotatable in opposite directions, in order to set the collar in different angular positions so as, in this way, to establish an operative connection between the rod and either jaw for quadding, or between the rod and both jaws for centering. During the regular operation of the machine (which involves no quadding or centering), the vertical rod I4 is not required to function, since the jaws Ill and II are set to receive certain length lines and the lines are expanded between the jaws during justification. The rack 24 is, therefore, provided (see Fig. 6) with diametrically opposite grooves and the rod rotated to bring the grooves in line with the pawls 33 and 34; consequently, the pawls will have no effect whatsoever on the rod I4. O-n the other hand, the lower section of the collar 2| is provided with two large notches so shaped and disposed that when the right-hand jaw I0 is to be connected alone to the actuating rod I4, the collar 2i, by a partial rotation of the rod, is set f to the position shown in Fig. 8 so as to locate one cf the notches in line with the pin 23; the collar 2i will thus engage the pin 22 to operate the righthand jaw, but it will clear the pin 23 so that the left-hand jaw will not be thereby actuated. When both jaws are to be connected to the rod I4 for a centering operation, the collar 2l by another partial rotation of the rod will permit the lower section to engage both pins 22 and 23, as shown in Fig. 9. Finally, when the left-hand jaw I l is to be connected to the rod I4 for operation, the collar 2! by further rotation of the rod I4 is set in the position shown in Fig. 10 to bring the other of said notches in position to clear the pin 22 while allowing the collar to engage the pin 23. rfhe position of the collar 2I is also shown in Fig. 7 as set for regular operation in order to afford a complete understanding of this control mechanism, but since, as explained above, the rod i4 is not operated (see Fig. 6) the position of the collar is immaterial. The lower segment of the collar 2| is also provided with three smaller notches, one of which is adapted, in each of the three positions for quadding and centering (see Figs, 8, 9 and 10) to be aligned with a guide 9a formed in the vise frame 9 of the machine to prevent the rotation of the collar during the rise of the rod I 4.

According to the present improvements, the collar 2I may be set in its Various angular positions either manually or automatically in response to signals contained in a control tape; in addition, the manual means employed may be either mechanical or electrical. The manually controlled mechanical means, as best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, include vpulleys 56 and 5I connected by a fiexible band or wire 52 and guides 53 therefor. The pulley 54 is keyed or splined to the rod I4 so that the rotation of the pulley by the wire is possible while still permitting the rod to be moved upwardly and downwardly in a vertical direction fw'itnrespeetto said pulley. The shouldnt course, be provided with `'is 'adapted to be `rotated 'oper-ation, right-jaw quadding of `or equivalent electrical oper-ation,

`mounted on a lever 1| which '14, `which latter is "cam plate 15 `carried by the empa-2 vise frame 9 suitable eye- The pulley by a hand lever 54 through -a llong shaft 55 and gears 5ta and 5th.

lets toaccommodate the w-ire 52.

r"Ihe shaft 55 is equipped with an indicator 51 to be used in association with a graduated scale `58 as a guide to the operator in making the various vsettings of the control rod I4, and a springp'res'sed plunger 59 is 4in the gear segment 58h to maintain the setting The manually controlled electrical means for fse'tting the control rod can be briefly described 'at this point by 'reference 'Figs.`32 and 33. as shown in Figs.

to Figs. 26 to 28 and A push-button control box 50, 32 and 33, is mounted alongside the ve push buttons ell-A to automatic" adapted to engage notches short lines, right-jaw quadding, centering and left-jaw quadding operations, respectively.

The `push-button control device can be of any type or design, but preferably is of a type according to which the setting of any particular vbutton releases all the previous settings. As -show-n in Fig. '33, and as will be later explained -with reference to the circuit diagram, the control box 5U contains signal lights 52 and @3, the 'former to indicate power supply and the latter to indicate Teletypesetter operation, and a switch v-lll'which can be set either for manual (electrical) or Teletypesetter control.

The electrical push-button control for setting `therod IHl includes primarily a pulley 55, a long ilexible `wire or band 66 passing around the pulley and over grooved rollers 65a, a short flexible wire Aor band 66a, a slotted slide 61, and three solenoids elements A, B and C (see Figs. 26 and 28) enclosed in a box or housing |58. The slide 61 `is attached at its upper end to one end of the wire 66 and at its lower end to one end "of the wire 66a, being mounted for movement in an upward and downward direction between vertical 4guides |31a and 51h. The maximum upward position of 'the slide is determined by the lower portion of the eyelet 6ta for the wire 66, and its maximum downward position is determined by the upper portion of the eyelet 63b for the wire 65. The normal or regular position of the slide is its most upward position for regular machine and the distance it is moved downwardly from such normal position determines the setting of the control rod for right-jaw quadding, centering, and lett-jaw quadding in that order, the left-jaw quadding position corresponding to the maximum 'downward position of the slide. At 'its end remote from the slide, the wire (itl is attached to a tension spring B9 which serves to keep the slide in the normal or regular upward position. And at its end remote from the slide, the

' through the medium of the spring T3, the arm vserving to pull the slide 61 downwardly by contact with an adjustable `set screw T0 on the arm 10. Since the spring"1'3 provides a yielding connection between the levers 14 and 1 I, the slide '61 can be stopped at any `predetermined position to effect the setting of therod I4. 'When the elevator rises to transport the matrices and spacebands for distribution, the slide 61 is returned to normal or upward position by the spring 59.

The amount of vertical displacement of lthe slide 61, and Iconsequently the setting of the collar 2l, is controlled by spring-pressed plungers A1, B1 and Cl connected to 'the armatures a, b and c of the solenoids A, B and C, respectively. As shown in Fig. 26, the slide |51 is vprovided with a round hole al which is adapted to be engaged by the plunger A1 to hold the slide rin its uppermost position Vcorresponding to the regular setting of the collar 2| as shown in Fig. 7; with a somewhat elongated hole or slot b1 which is adapted to be vengaged by the plunger 'B1 and allows a partial downward displacement of the slide when the plunger A1 is removed from the hole al for the purpose of setting the collar 2| in the right-jaw quadding position, as shown in Fig. 8; and with a still more elongated hole or slot c1 which is adapted to be engaged by the plunger C1 and allows a further downward displacement of the slide when the plungers A1 and B1 are removed from the holes orslots a1 and b1 for the purpose o setting the vcollar 2| in the position shown in Fig. 9 for centering. The plungers A1, B1 and C1 are withdrawn from engageent with their respective holes or slots by energization 'ci' the respective solenoids A, B and C; and, oi course, 'when 'all three are energized, the slide 67 is Vpermitted to be shifted downward to its maximum lowermost position, thereby setting the control collar 2i to the leftjaw quadding position as shown'in'Fig. 10. The selective operation of the solenoids .is controlled by the push buttons @il-A, 'B-C, G-D and E50-E of the control box til, the appropriate button being pressed after the particular line has been composed in the assembler 2. The circu-ts for the energzation of the .solenoids are thereupon conditioned for operation, and, when the line of matrices is presented in casting position by the descent of the first elevator 8, the rotation of the rst elevator operating cam 8a closes a switch |82 (see Fig. 29) to energize the appropriate solenoid. During the ascent of the .line after the casting operation, a switch E84 is opened, thereby wiping out .the .particular signal. A more detailed .description of the above operation will be presented in connection with the circuit diagram contained in Figs.. 36 and 36A.

The remaining button vG-B, when actuated, serves to condition the .electrical system for automatic quadding short lines with the righthand jaw while permitting full length lines to be cast as regular operation. Toward this end, a line measuring Yc'l'evice, denoted generally by the reference numeral and enclosed within a box or housing 232, is attach-ed to the left-.hand Aside of vthe machine just beyond the first elevator il `when it occupies its line receiving position. Vleretiuding `from the ybex toward the right is a plunger rod `8| `arranged with its rig-ht end in the line of travel V.of `a block 'da .to which the long left-hand finger Ii 'of the line delivery carriage is attached (see Figs. 1, 18to120). The head 8| at the left 'endof the rod 8| is situated in the housing 'B2 and, as the line delivery carriage Aiingers 4 and 5 convey the line of matrices from the assembler -2 to the fiirst :elevator 8, the rod 3l p wheel 92 (see Fig. 13)

is pushed in a leftward direction through a distance corresponding to the length of the line. Also situated in the housing 82 is a block 83 threaded to a rotatable screw 64 and supported by a rail 85, the block being adjustable to the right cr the left by the rotation of said screw. The block 83 carries an upstanding bracket |33EL on which is mounted an electrical switch 86 and a pivoted make-break arm 8l carrying a roller 8'Ia at its free end. Also mounted on the movable block 83 yis a rotatable three segment member 88a, 88b and 88c which is acted upon by a center overthrow spring 89 to maintain it in contact with a stop pin 83b and normally in an inoperative position, as shown in Figs. 18 and 19. The segment 88a carries a cam lillaa which, when a line of matrices is over a predetermined length, is brought into contact with the roller 81a of the arm 87 and eiects the closing of the switch 86. This switch closing operation is effected by the engagement of the rod 8| with the second segment 88h, which when rotated suciently causes the overthrow of the spring 89, a further stop pin 83c limiting the rotation. After the line has been delivered into the rst elevator 8, the rod 8| is restored to its normal or rightward position by a spring-urged tape 90 and, as the rod 8| begins its return, the collared head portion 8|a engages the third segment 88C and rotates the cam bearing segment |38a back to normal or inactive position with the aid of the spring 89. By Way of explanation, when the push button 60-B is set for automatic quadding, if the line is long enough to eiTect the closing of the 'A switch 86, the circuit is unconditioned for operation, as will be more fully explained in connection with the circuit diagram contained in Figs. 36 and 36A, and the collar 2| is maintained in position for regular operation. If, on the other hand, the line is too short for regular casting and, therefore, fails to close the switch 86, the circuit is conditioned for the energization of the solenoids A and C to effect the rotation of the collar 2| to right-jaw quadding position.

In accordance with the present improvements, adjustments of the line measuring device 86 are possible, not only when the settings of the assembler slide 3a and the vise jaws i0 and are changed to accommodate lines of dilerent length, but also to vary the length of line that will be automatically right-jaw quadded, simultaneously with or independent of the settings or" the vise y jaws and the assembler slide. Thus, for example, the assembler slide and vise jaws may be set to accommodate lines of 14 ems and the line measuring device 80 set to automatically rightjaw quad lines 2 ems short thereof (that is, lines under 12 ems).v lf, then, it is desired to cast from lines of 30 ems', the assembler slide, vise jaws and line measuring. device' must all be set accordingly; however, since lines of 30 ems are usually capable of greater expansion than lines of l4'en1s, it would hardly be necessary to quad all lines that are only slightly under'28 ems. Forl this reason, adjustment of the line measuring device is possible to provide for right-jaw quadding of lines more than 2 eins short, say, for example, 3, 31/2 or eins short, without changing the settings of the assembler slide or the vise jaws.

Toward these ends, a rotatable adjusting is mounted on the right hand side of the vise frame 9. and is adapted torotate a screw 93y associated with'the banking block 20 of the .left-hand jaw l0 for the purpose of adjusting the left-hand jaw toward or from the right-hand J'aw II through an arrangement of gears 92a, 94, 95, 96 and 97, and a rotatable shaft 93 having a telescopic connection with the screw, said shaft extending loosely through the support I8 for the right-hand jaw I and having no effect thereon. The right-hand extremity of the shaft 90 is provided with a small bevel gear 99 in constant mesh with another bevel gear |00. The gear It@ is connected by a flexible shaft extending through a cable |0| to a gear |02 (see Figs. 14 to 16),' the gear I 02 is adapted to mesh with a gear |03, and both of said gears are enclosed in a housing |04 mounted on the front face plate |05 of the machine. As shown, the upper part of the housing |04 is provided with grooved lugs |648' and |011b which serve as guides for the assembler` slide 3a. The gear |03 is pinned to the shaft of a rotatable screw |06, to which is threaded an adjustable stop member |07 adapted to prevent the assembly of lines of greater length than that for which the jaws are set to accommodate. As the matrices are individually composed against the line resistant 3, the slide y3a will be moved accordingly in a leftward direction against the tension of a spring until a screw |08 mounted on the slide comes into contact with the stop |01. Obviously, howeverthe line should be completed just short .of this condition. As will now be clear, both the stop |01 and the left-hand jaw l0 are adjustable by the wheel 92, the various gear arrangements being such that the movement of the jaw I0 through a distance n: (Fig. 13) will effect a like movement of the stop member through the same distance :l: (Fig. 14). n

If by chance the composed line is too tight, slightly exceeding the setting of the jaw by one or two matrices, the present improvements include means for slightly backing ofi the stop memper It? to facilitate the` removal of the extra matrix or two. The screw |06 is therefore rotatably and shiftably supported in bearings I 04 and |05, the former being integral with the housing |04 and the latter being ai-llxed to the face plate |05. A plunger extending from the right-hand end of the screw |06, is spring-urged in a rightward direction to maintain the screw banked against the bearing |05a; and a small pivoted locking lever |09, held in locked position by a spring ||0, is adapted to engagea groove in the left-hand extremity of the screw |06, the shoulder |06a (see Fig. 14) serving to prevent movement of the screw in a leftward direction. When the lever |09 is pivoted out of locking position, however,the screw |06 can be shifted endwise to the left slightly by the depression of the plunger or by simply pulling the line resistant 3 to the left. 'The stop |01 will thereby'be backed away from the screw |08, loosening the line to permit'the operator to remove the last matrix or two with ease.

The hand wheel 92 not only effects the setting of the assembler stop |01 andthe vise jaw I0 but, in addition, it operates to simultaneously change the setting 4of the line measuring device 30. It has already been explained how the rotation of the hand wheel 92, through the gear arrangement 92, 94, 95, effects the rotation of the gear 96. As best shown in Figs. 17 and 21, the gear 96 is provided with internal gear teeth which are'a'dapted to mesh with and rotate a small gear 'l |`2 fastened'to a shaft ||3. Another small gear attacca ||4 of double Width-is likewise. vfastened. to the shaft ||3 and is adapted to mesh. with -internal gear teeth of a bevel gear llii. The bevel. gear H5 is in constant meshA with another bevel gear |`I`B` which, through the medium of a long flex-- ible shaft housed in a cable |1,. serves to` rotate the aforementioned screw 84 to adjust the block 8'3 thereon.

It will now be seen that, when a different length line is to be cast, the hand. wheel 02 is operated to change the settings of thevise jaws, the assembler stop, and the line measuring de vice simultaneously. As best shownin: Figs. 1'1 and 23, a scale H9, mounted in a housing |20, is provided as a guide in making these settings. The gear t is fastened to a rotatable screw |2| (see Figs. 24 and 25) and a marker or indicator |22 threaded thereon, so that when the gear 96 is rotated by the wheel S2 the marker |22 will be moved in relation to the scale H9. The scale is preferably graduated in emsv to correspond with the length of line to be cast and a single revolution of the screw |2|` will `move the marker |22 one em. along the scale H9;- the gear arrangement is such, however, that a singlerevolution of the wheel 92 will rotate the screw |2| through three revolutions. Also attached to the screw |2| is a dial |23 with 1.2 graduations corresponding to point settings (1.21 points equals 1 em) for ner adjustments.

As already stated, it sometimes isy desirable to change the setting of the line measuring de.- vice 80 independently ofthe vise jaws and line stop in order to vary the length of line thatwill be automatically right-jaw quadded. For this purpose, a knob |24 (see Figs. 1, 13, 23 and 25), pinned to the shaft |I3, may be pulled to the right against spring tension to shift the gear ||2 out of engagement with the gear 96 (the shaft of the screw |2| being provided with an enlarged bore to accommodate the gear ||2') and, at the same time, to shift the wide gear ||4 to the right into engagement with a gear |25 (see Fig. 21) While still maintaining its engagement with the bevel gear ||5. The shaft ||3 is, therefore, free to revolve inside of and independently of the screw |2|, the only connection between the two being through the disengaged gears |2 and 96. It will be remembered that the gear ||5is adapted to rotate the screw |34. to adjust the block 83 of the line measuring device 80. The gear |25 is provided with `a dial |26 having eight half-em graduations thereon, reading from 0 to 4. ems, so that the line measuring device 80 can be independently set with precision to regulate, at the will of the operator, the length of line short of full length. that is to be automatically `quadded. Forexampla if the jawsand assembler stop were set for linesof 2'1 ems and the dial .|26 were setatS ems (assuming of course, that the machine is being operated with the push-button control set for automatic quadding), any line under 24 ems would be automatically quadded while lines over that limit would be cast regularly. Obviously, the knob |24 in its normal or leftward position can be employed for ner settings of the jaws, assembler stop and line measuring device, employing the dial |23 (which reads points or 1/12 ems) or the scale ||9 (which reads ems).

For conveniently locking and locating the setting device inany desired position, the right- .hand end of the housing4 I2@ .is provided withv a ,plurality of holes |233, preferably twelve in number to .correspond to point settings, andthe knob` |24l is provided with a pin. |24a shdably mounted therein for insertionin orr removal from the appropriate hole corresponding to that particularsetting.. The pin |23a is adapted to be shifted between operative or locked position and inoperative orfunlocked position, and, to facilitate the location of the pin in either position, the shaft thereof is provided With two adjacent grooves or detente |.4ya and |24C and a single spring-pressed bail |24id adapted to engage the groove |24b in the unlocked position and the groove |2111c in the` locked position. The separation between the said grooves is preferably beveled on either sidey to facilitate the movement of the pin` from one position to the other.

It might also be mentioned that the above described setting mechanism can be employed to simultaneously adjust the Mohr saw mechanism, a standard well known product which is adapted to be attached to linecasting machines for the purpose of cutting oil the blank end portions of castl slugs. For purposes of the present invention, it suffices to say that the regular vertical adjusting. screw |2s' of the Mohr saw is provided at the uppermost extremity thereof (see Fig. 13) with a bevel gear |28 which is adapted to engage a bevel gear |23 mounted on a horizontally disposed shaft |30. A gear |3| on the shaft |30 is in mesh with the gear S22, so that the Mohr saw can be adjusted simultaneously with the lefthand jaw I0, the assembler stop |01, and the line measuring device 80.

A In the regular operation of the machine (which involves no quadding or centering) the jaws i0 and are relatively immo: able and the line of matrices justified therebetween by expansible spacebands.- Inasmuch asthe molten metal is forced into the mold under considerable pressure by means. of a pump plunger |36 (see Figs. 30 and 3l) through a spring-operated cam-controlled bell crank lever |31, it is extremely important that the line be fully expanded between the jaws to prevent squirts As a conventional safety measure to prevent `the above mentioned condition, the more or less horizontally disposed arm of the bell crank lever |31 is provided with a projection |31.e under which va pivoted pump plunger stop |33Yis normally adapted to rest. If a line `has been sufficiently expanded during justification, the right-hand jaw will yield slightly and, through a Contact set s rew |39, actuate a pivoted lever |40 to withdraw the stop |38 from the downward path of the projection |31@ While this safety attachment is satisfactory for regular machine operation, it is not entirely satisfactory for quadding and centering operations, and particularly quadding .and centering operations involvinga closing movement. of theright-hand jaw which leaves the prmp plunger stop active. For these latter operations, therefore, an electrical safety device controlled from the left-hand jaw is provided. This the stop |38 is adapted to be released by the operation of a rotary solenoid or equivalent electrical element itil. For this purpose, as shown in Fig. 36, a voltage supply is tapped off a transformer M2 and converted into direct current by a rectifier |43. The lefthand vise jaw I0 has a spring-pressed plunger |44 (see- Fig. 30) built into it, and when sufficient pressure is exerted by the jaw on the line of matrices,.t he plunger |44. is .caused to yield to close a switchxi (also built into thejaw l0) to completethe necessary circuit for the. opera- 

